Loose-leaf binder



Feb; 20, 1923.

LOOSE LEA; BINDER. FILED FEB. 23,1921.

/n yen/0r 1,445,910. B. PLUSHKELL.

enema Feb. 2a, was.

AUGUST B. PLUSHKELL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed February 23 192l. Serial No. 447,013.

To all whomc't may concern: H Y

Be itknown that I, AUGUST B. PLUSH- KELL, a citizen of thelUnited States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have mrented new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, and the following is such a full, clear, and exact disclosure of the invention that any one skilled in the art to which it appertai-ns may make and use the same.

My invention pertains to binders of the ring type and is designed primarily to provide a simple, inexpensive and efiicient means for permanently securing loose or unattached leaves in book form so they will lie flat when the book is opened.

In its preferred form the device combines a some of the features and advantages of a loose leaf ring hinder; and is particularly applicable to binders for permanent records, such as check books, closed account books and the like, where leaves are ordinarily not required to be withdrawn or replaced, yet will admit of the latter in case of necessity.

.My foremost object in perfecting the present invention was to provide an inexpensive means for securing loose leaves, in a more or less permanent binder; wherein the binding or covers could be made up in quantity and the loose leaves later attached with a minimum of time and labor, thereby reducing the cost of the completed product to the lowest ossible figure.

Essential y the invention l comprises a bindenor cover, forming a support, and a ring, or rings, attached thereto for retaining the sheets or leaves; and one of the primary features of the invention, as will later appear, resides in the formation of the ring itself.

The nature ofthe invention will be more fully set forth in the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a preferred specific form, and in which: v

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view showing the application of my invention to a bin'der; Fig. 2 is a perspective-view of one of the binding elements; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevationof a binder showing my improved retaining elements as applled thereto.

Broadly speaking my invention comprises essentially the mounting of leaf-retaining elements, (hereinafter termed rings) generally designated by the numeral 10, on a suitable binder or covering, generally designated by the numeral 11. The binder 11 consists of topandbottom. covers 12 and 13, connected together by a flexible back portion 14: to permit the covers to be opened and closed in the usual manner. ,While I prefer to use this type of covering or binder in connection with my retaining'means, it is to'be understood that the top cover 12 and the back 14 may be discarded if desired, and the rings 10 mounted on a single back or support 13. In case of the use of a binder consistin of covers and back, as shown, the

cover in such position that when the covers are in closed relation the back portion will contact with one side of the ring pd tion. 15, as shown in Fig. 3.

Any number of lthe rings 10 may be mounted on the bottom cover 13; in some. cases one being sufficient, and in other cases two or more being preferable. The binder- 11 may be constructed of any suitablematerial usually used for such work, such as pas'teboard,'or other binding materials;this feature of the invention being important only in so far as it'provides a suitable support or. mounting for the ring 10.

The rings 10 are preferably of the configuration shown in the drawings; comprising essentially an inverted U-shaped ring portion 15, having a securing portion 16 formed integral therewith. The device may b constructed of any suitable material, such as steel or brass wire, or the like; in which case, the ring portion 15 is formed by bend ing one end, and the securing portion 16 is formed by flattening out the opposite end for a suitable distance, through which portion holes'or perforations 17v are punched for the reception of rivets 18, by means of which it is rigidly secured to its support13.

The: ring portion 15 -is preferably'bent to the configuration shown in the drawings (see Fig. 2) being formed by bending one end of a'piece of material upwardly and over in the direction of the opposite end and then downwardly, forming a ring which is substantially three-quarters of a circle from one end of which astraight portion 19 extends tangentially, and from the other end of which the securing portion 16 extends tangentially (see Fig. This portion 15 is then twisted laterally'until it extends in a plane at an angle with the securing porgig,

tion 16, thus forming a' substantially inverted U-shaped ring portion (see Fig. 2)

at ananglewith'the securing portion 16.

The extreme lower face '20 of the portion 19 is terminated at a point flush with or in a planewiththe bottom face 21 of the se curing portion '16; or in some cases it may extend slightly below the surface 21, in order to press tightly against the upperface of the support 13 on which it. is mounted. In any event it is preferable that the face extend below the top surface 22 of the securing portion 16 in order that the loose leaves 23 when supported thereon, as will be hereinafter explained, will not ordinarily become accidentally disengaged from the straight portions 19.

' after which the retaining portion 16 may As above stated in the preferred form of my device the securing portion 16extends at an angle relative to the axis of-.the ring portion 15 (Fig. 2) this angle being fixed as desired, but for all practical purposes it will be substantially 45. This ill enable the ring portion15to be most easily inserted through perforations 25 of the looseleaves 23, when in'a thick pad or block, after which the securing portion 16 (which will extend beyond the ends thereof, as shown in Fig.

1) vmay. be riveted or secured to the back 13.

It isclear that the angle between the ring portion 15 and the securing portion 16 need not be held to 45, or substantially so, but

may be formed at any angle which will permit insertingthe ring portion 15 through a thick pad or block of leaves 23 (before attaching) and thereafter'permit the securing portion to lie beyond the ends thereof (as in Fig. 1) for attachmentto the supporting member 13.

In practical use the device will be ordinarily handled by taking a thick block or pad ofthe'leaves 28, as shown in Fig. 3,

stacked in a pile with their perforations 25 in register and the retaining elements 10 secured thereto by first passing'the portion 19 upwardly through theperforations 25, from the bottom, and slipping the ring portion 15 through to the position'shown in Fignl;

be fastened to the back cover or support 13 by the rivets 18. Fig.1 illustrates the leaves .23 retained by the ring 15 on one side of the securing portion 16, from which it is plain to be seen that it will be a comparatively siniple matter to mount the retaining elements on supports by the rivets, after being applied to the leaves. This simplicity of application is one of the principal features of my invention.

It will be noted from reference to Fig. 3

- that in practical use the leaves 23 will ordinarily rest on the top face 22 of the securing portion 16, when thrown to that side. of the ring portion 15,-thereby being, supported above the top face of the support 13, and

'ring portion and its axis.

generally obviating the possibility of any of the leaves accidentally passing. between the .lower face 20 of the portion 19 and the said upper face of the sup-port.

While the rings will ordinarily be constructed of steel wire, or a similar material, they may be constructed of a comparatively soft resilient metal, which will admit of the ring portions 15 being sprung sufficiently to raise the lower faces 20 ofthe portions 19 away from the upper face of the support 13, and permit leaves to be withdrawn therefrom after they are-mounted on the support.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that I reserve 7 theright to make any changes or modifications in structure which comewithin the scope of the appended claims. I

Having described a preferred form of my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a leaf-securing member comprising a securing portion and a ring portion, said securing portion. being adapted to be secured to a supporting member and said ring portion being formed to pass through a thick pad of leavesat one time, by extending thesecuring portion at an-angle between the plane of the 2. In a device of the character described, a leafsecurmg member comprising a securmg portion having a relatively mverted U- shaped portion formed integral therewith by bending one end, the plane of said U- shaped portion lying at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees, with said securing portion with its free end in a plane with being straight and of a length to engage the surface of the basel 4. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a base member and a leaf retaining member secured thereto, said leaf retaining member comprising a ring portion and a securing portion,'the ring portion and securing portion b ing relatively formed to permit the extension of the ring portion through a thick pad of leaves at one time and so the securing portion will then extend.

beyond the edges of said leaves its later attachment to the base.

5. In-a device of: the character described, the combination of a base member and a leaf to permit retaining member secured thereto, the leaf retaining member'comprising a ringportion and a securing portion, the ring portion and securing portion being relatively formed to permit the extension of the ring portion through a thick pad of leaves at one time and so the securing portion will then extend beyond the edges of the said leaves to permit its later attachment to the base, thefree L0 end of the ring portion being straight and 01 a length to engage the face otthe base when the securing portion is attached thereto. y

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th dayvof February, 1921.

Witness:

\ IRGINIA BERINGER. 

